There are contract talks in the air – but Dunfermline skipper Euan Murray is focusing solely on tasks on the park with the Pars.
Reports emerged this week suggesting Murray had turned down a new Dunfermline deal, his current contract up in the summer. For the defender, it wouldn’t be right of him to tell his teammates to focus on the Pars if he had his eyes elsewhere.
Murray’s got amongst the goals. (Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“It’s not something I have focused on at all,” Murray said of a new deal. “I can’t go preaching to boys that they need to remain focused on games If I’m getting drawn into things like that.
“My focus is on the next game and I understand how important it is for the team that I am fully focused. And I am, I’m a Dunfermline player.
“I’m the captain of this club and my job is to hopefully help us win on a Saturday. As a captain, that’s something I’m pretty big on, making sure the group stays very, very grounded and focused, and understanding of the fact you’re not going to get an easy game in the Championship.”
All eyes on Pars. (Photo by Euan Cherry/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Speaking ahead of the Fife derby with Raith Rovers on Saturday, Murray heads to his old club as Dunfermline’s joint top-scorer and captain of the Championship’s top side. He says goals are something the modern defender has to strive for.
“Especially full-backs, there’s demands put on them these days to go and get numbers into their game, whether that’s assists or goals,” said Murray. “It’s been good, I can’t say it’s not been. It’s a great feeling scoring goals, and the run I’m on.
“I’ve spoken before about it. I’ve always said that if balls are put into an area that I can go and attack then I’m confident I’ll get on the end of things. A lot of credit has to be given to my team-mates – Dom, Ryan Dow, these types of people, putting deliveries into an area that gives me the best opportunity to go and get my big head on them.
Goals aplenty. (Photo by Euan Cherry/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“As a defender, it’s my job in the game to try to influence things where we can have a solid enough base that players like Dom, Ryan Dow, Declan McManus, Kyle Turner can go and express themselves knowing the back door is shut.”